As Obama stood next to the world's most recognized democracy icon, he mispronounced her name repeatedly. Ever gracious, Suu Kyi did not correct her American guest for calling her Aung YAN Suu Kyi multiple times during his statement to reporters after their meeting. Proper pronunciation for the Nobel laureate's name is Ahng Sahn Soo Chee. The meeting came after Obama met with Myanmar's reformist new President Thein Sein - a name he also botched. As the two addressed the media, Obama called his counterpart "President Sein," an awkward, slightly affectionate reference that would make most Burmese cringe. Note to presidential advisers: For future rounds of diplomacy, the president of Myanmar is President Thein Sein - on first and second reference.

These foibles were mentioned in the 20th paragraph of an Associated Press story entitled, "Obama Draws Crowd in Yangon." Many of the preceding grafs were devoted to quoting adoring comments from Burmese citizens. I wonder if these "cringe" worthy gaffes would have been relegated to afterthought status had they been committed by Obama's predecessor -- who, as we've all been endlessly informed, was "stupid." By the way, these name snafus weren't Obama's only errors in his public appearances today. The Weekly Standard notes that he identified the host nation as "Myanmar," which is the designation preferred by the nation's military junta (which has since ceded power to a "nominally civilian government"):

Obama used the word "Myanmar," the preferred terminology of the former military government and currently nominally civilian government, in a spray following the bilat, rather than use "Burma," the former name of the country, and the one preferred by Aung San Suu Kyi as well as the name the U.S. uses. "I've shared with him the fact that I recognize this is just the first steps on what will be a long journey," Obama told reporters, with Thein Sein at his side. "But we think a process of democratic and economic reform here in Myanmar that has been begun by the president is one that can lead to incredible development opportunities.

The White House says Obama bucked US policy and employed the military junta's preferred term as a "diplomatic courtesy." Obama extended a similar courtesy to another undeserving actor in the recent past, angering our closest ally while he was at it. Here's video of today's authoritarian accommodation, via Allahpundit:

The Boy Genius. You would think that his handlers, knowing what they MUST know about him, would work out a simplified system to get him to say the names correctly. Keep it REAL simple. But, the Boy Genius just can’t quit get the hang of it.

Obama spent his 1st term on world apology tour then daily campaign parties.

why is he making these trips now, they don't help US in any way, only add to debt.

He really has very little reason to travel second term...other than he will avoid responsibilities of the office, air force one is used as entertainment/expensive toy and or Valarie Jarret encourages the travel so she can run the show.

The Boy Genius. You would think that his handlers, knowing what they MUST know about him, would work out a simplified system to get him to say the names correctly. Keep it REAL simple. But, the Boy Genius just cant quit get the hang of it.

Eh, I don't think he's that stupid. It was on purpose. Who knows why.

12
posted on 11/19/2012 8:42:26 PM PST
by xjcsa
(Ridiculing the ridiculous since the day I was born.)

I have a pretty good idea what she was thinking when he walked away from the car he arrived in after he embraced her in a bear hug and she had to unwrap herself from him, because she then had to turn around and go back to the car and welcome Hillary, whom he had left behind as if he had forgotten she was there. The man is a walking talking fool and a disgrace. But I bet your TV didn’t show that, like ours did in Oz.
Clodhopper visits the palace is what it looked like.

I agree with you, it's deliberate. He's waaaaay into personal nastiness. Remember his giving McCain the not-so-subtle bird during the debates? His nasty sniling at Romney during the second debate this year? The frequent displays of open contempt?

When Biden did that with Paul Ryan, I had an impression it was coached, that Joe's handlers asked him to do that. ("Go to the body, Joe, go to the ribs!")

When Obama does it, it's character.

Julius Caesar did it a lot, too, sneering and putting people down -- you can see these guys coming, if you know what to look for. Human nature wasn't invented last week.

[Art.] Ever gracious, Suu Kyi did not correct her American guest for calling her Aung YAN Suu Kyi multiple times during his statement to reporters after their meeting. ...The meeting came after Obama met with Myanmar's reformist new President Thein Sein - a name he also botched.

Just his way of letting her know, "Look, it's nice that you earned a Nobel Prize, honey, but don't let it go to your head. There's only one superstar around here."

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